{"id":7344,"date":"2011-09-06T22:06:26","date_gmt":"2011-09-07T06:06:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=7344"},"modified":"2013-09-12T14:08:34","modified_gmt":"2013-09-12T22:08:34","slug":"how-to-stop-reading-and-start-doing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/how-to-stop-reading-and-start-doing\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Stop Reading and Start Doing"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If you\u2019re anything like me, you\u2019ve probably spent a fair bit of money on books, ebooks and course materials over the years.<\/p>\n

Maybe you\u2019re keen to learn something new \u2013 computer programming or website design.<\/p>\n

Maybe you want to accomplish a big goal \u2013 losing weight or getting your finances sorted out.<\/p>\n

You probably get a little surge of excitement whenever you pick up a new book or sign up for an online course. You\u2019re sure that you\u2019re going to finally achieve something great.<\/p>\n

The problem is, reading<\/em> isn\u2019t going to get you anywhere. <\/strong>You need to put what you read into action.<\/p>\n

And that, for most of us, is the tough bit.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how to put all that great advice into practice: <\/em><\/p>\n

#1: Do the Exercises<\/h2>\n

You know how lots of books have exercises for you to try out?<\/p>\n

How often do you do them?<\/p>\n

Probably rarely \u2013 or never. And maybe you finish each book feeling a bit disappointed: you thought that this\u00a0 time, you\u2019d really get somewhere.<\/p>\n

By simply doing the exercises \u2013 even just a few of them \u2013 you\u2019ll massively increase the value that you get from the book (or course).<\/strong> Theoretical concepts will suddenly become clearer as you put them into practice. You\u2019ll find yourself making real progress towards your goals.<\/p>\n

#2: Keep a Reading Journal<\/h2>\n

When you finish a book, you probably put it straight back on the shelf. You might remember one or two key points, or recommend it to a friend \u2013 you might even re-read it in a few months or years. But you don\u2019t necessarily use<\/em> what you\u2019ve learned.<\/p>\n

A reading journal gives you a space to reflect on books, while you\u2019re reading them and after you\u2019ve finished.<\/strong> You can use your journal to:<\/p>\n